Alstroemeria plant named ‘Konpride’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Konpride’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit; bright pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Konpride’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, grown typically as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Konpride’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact potted garden Alstroemeria cultivars that flower early and freely and have attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands on Nov. 5, 2001, of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 5782-14, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 97-0-4, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands on Aug. 27, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria by root divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands since Sep. 4, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Alstroemeria has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Konpride’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Konpride’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plants.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Bright pink-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are more compact than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are more compact than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Koserin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,996. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of ‘Koserin’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were taller but narrower than         plants of ‘Koserin’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants         of ‘Koserin’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Koserin’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Koserin’ had yellow and pink-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Konpride’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Konpride’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands during the spring and summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in containers. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 16° C. Plants used for the photographs and description were 26 weeks from planting. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Konpride’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 5782-14, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 97-0-4, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium in thickness; color, close             to 161A.         -   Rhizome description.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About             5 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Close to             161A. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Compact and mounded; freely branching, bushy             appearance. Sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 35 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm. -   Stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 187B; towards the apex, close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single             whorl; sessile.         -   Length.—About 7.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 144A. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Close to             141A, venation, close to 153A. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to N144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels. Flowers face upright or outwardly. Perianth             segments separate. Freely flowering habit; about four to ten             flowers per inflorescence; about 30 to 60 flowers develop             per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous from the late             spring until frost in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one to three weeks;             flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 155A; towards the apex, close             to 64C.         -   Umbel height.—About 10 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 12 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 6 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 5 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 1.9 cm. Length, median segment:             About 4.8 cm. Width, median segment: About 2 cm. Size, outer             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 5 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 3.2 cm. Length, median segment:             About 4.9 cm. Width, median segment: About 3 cm. Shape,             inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Lanceolate.             Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median segments: Obovate.             Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Acute.             Apex, outer perianth, lateral and median segments: Embedded             point. Base, inner and outer perianths, lateral and median             segments: Attenuate. Margin, inner and outer perianths,             lateral and median segments: Entire. Texture, inner and             outer perianths, lateral and median segments: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, inner perianth: When opening, lateral             segments, upper surface: Towards the base, close to 2D;             towards the apex, close to 75D; at the apex, close to 143B;             stripes, close to 187A. When opening, median segment, upper             surface: Towards the base, close to 8D; towards the apex,             close to 75B; at the apex, close to 143B; stripes, close to             187A. When opening, lateral segments, lower surface: Towards             the base, close to 4C; towards the apex, close to 76C. When             opening, median segment, lower surface: Towards the base,             close to N155B; towards the apex, close to 75C. Fully             opened, lateral segments, upper surface: Towards the base,             close to 8C; towards the apex, close to 75B; at the apex,             close to 143B; stripes, close to 187A. Color becoming closer             to 77C with development. Fully opened, median segment, upper             surface: Towards the base, close to N155C; towards the apex,             close to 77C; at the apex, close to 143B; stripes, close to             187A. Color becoming closer to 77C with development. Fully             opened, lateral segments, lower surface: Close to 2D;             towards the base and apex, close to 76B. Fully opened,             median segment, lower surface: Close to 75B. Color, outer             perianth: When opening, lateral and median segments, upper             surface: Close to 75C. When opening, lateral segments, lower             surface: Close to 76C. When opening, median segment, lower             surface: Close to 75C. Fully opened, lateral and median             segments, upper surface: Close to 76B; towards the apex,             close to 75A. With development, color becoming closer to             77D. Fully opened, lateral and median segments, lower             surface: Close to 76B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: About 35° C. from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Oval. Anther size: About 7 mm by 2 mm. Anther             color: Close to 191A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 162A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 4.2 cm. Style length: About 3.1 cm. Style             color: Close to 64C. Stigma color: Close to 64B. Ovary             color: Close to 144A.         -   Fruits.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Color:             Close to 199A. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain     and temperatures ranging from about 2° C. to about 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Konpride’ as illustrated and described. 